Sanitary toilet bowl appliance



March 17, 1953 o, KLABUNDE 2,631,296

SANITARY TOILET BOWL APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 17, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR.

March 17, 1953 o. KLAIBUNDE 2,531,296

SANITARY TOILET BOWL APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 1'7, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I N VEN TOR.

provision of a Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANITARY TOILET BOWL APPLIANCE Otto Klabunde, Chicago, 111. Application October 17, 1949, Serial No. 121,823

Claims.

The present invention relates to toilet devices and has for its main object the provision of a device utilizing current of water for washing parts of the body in substitution of the commonly used toilet paper. The device is primarily intended for use in cases of various rectal afflictions in which common toilet paper-- is too irritating.

Another object of the present invention is the rotatablewheel along which a current of water is thrown when the wheel is shifted toward a part of'the body for cleansing the same,

and which wheel may be adjustable vertically and laterally to adapt the same to a proper position of the users body.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the-same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims".

In the drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1' is a sideelevational view of the present device connected with a toilet bowl;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4' is a cross-sectional view on a horizontal plane through the device, the view'having been taken on line i-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on a vertical plane through the device, the view having been taken on line 55 of Fig.4; and

Fig. 6' is a front elevational view of a mounting means permitting the device to angularly shift upon vertical and horizontal planes in order to adapt the device to assume a proper position with relation to the position of the user's body.

Referring in detail to: the present drawings there is shown a toilet bowl it, to therear portion of which a pair of supporting bars H. is rigidly'connected by means of bolt 12. Each of said bars II at its rear end supports. a pair of spaced arms l3 upwardly projecting from said bars H and pivoted thereto as at H. The upper ends of each pair of said arms IS- are pivoted to a side flange I5 rigidly formed with and downwardly'dependi'ng from platform [5. Thus, four of" said arms are in a pivotal relation with said bars H at their lower ends and with said platform [6' at their upper ends.

Platform I6 supports pin H, which by its lower end is riveted to said platform as at 18. Oblong block It has a central bore, through which said pin IT is extended. for permitting said block. l9 to angularly shift thereabout in either direction. The upper end of said pin l1 extends above the upper face of said block is;

Extending from the upper. face of block. I9 is a pair" of pins 28, one adjacent each end of said block l9. Said pins 11 and 20 are in alinement longitudinally of block l9, and each is provided with a transverse slot for reception therewithin of leaf spring 2!. Since pin. I? is in a rigid, stationary position with relation to platform I61 any turning of block l9 upon said pin IT, in either direction, will be effected against the tension of spring 2|, the latter urging said block L9. to its normal, neutral position shown in Fig. 4, for the purposes hereinafter specified.

The device further includes plate 22, provided at its lower edge with central recess'23. Integrally'formed with and downwardly extending from the lower edge of said plate 22 is a pair of hinge arms 24, one adjacent-each edge of said plate 22. Said hinge arms 24 extend forwardly of the exposed face of said plate 22' and are in a perpendicular relation therewith. Each ofsaid hinge arms 24 is mounted, upon pintle 25 frictionally receivable within bore 26 made longitudinally of said block l9 and in the path of, pin ll. Each of said pintles 25 is provided with recessed head 27. Looped end of leaf spring 28 encompasses head 21 and is anchored within the recess. of said head 2'! for maintaining said spring 28 in. position. The upper end of said spring 28 extends upwardly from head 21 and bears against the adjacent face of said plate. 22, for normally maintaining said plate in a perpendicular-relation with platform 16. Extending into said block IS in transverse relation with bore 26 is a pair of. screws 29, which bear against pintles 25 for maintaining them in a fixedrotatably adjusted position. Said pintles 25 and heads 2.7 are capable oi rotatable adjustment on-loosening screws 29 for the purpose of shifting the upper ends of springs 28 to or away fromplate 22 and thereby of regulating the tensionof said springs 28 against plate 22.

Affixedin any suitable manner to the opposite face of said plate 22 is closure plate 30, which constitutes a closure for the adjacent open: face of turbine casing. 3 l, withlwhich. casing said plate 30 is-in. any suitable manner rigidly connected for maintaining said casing 3] closed. Positioned within said. casing 3i" isia bevelled turbine. wheel 32, which: isof a. bevelled formation reposing within a correspondingly formed cavity 33 in said casing 3|.

Formed upon the rim of said turbine wheel 32 is a plurality of vanes 34. Adjacent the upper end of said casing 3|, and at one side thereof, flexible tube 35 is connected to said casing 3|, the latter being provided with bore 36, communicating with said tube 35 and with cavity 33 adjacent the upper portion of turbine wheel 32. When water is forced through said tube 35, the same plays against vanes 34 for the wheel 32.

The outer face of said casing 3| is provided with boss 31, which constitutes a bearing for one end of shaft 38, upon which turbine wheel 32 is journalled for rotary movement. The opposite end of said shaft 38 is set within bearing 39, which is accommodated within cavity 4|] made in turbine wheel 32. "Said bearing 39 also extends through bore 4| made in closure plate 30. The opposite end of shaft 38 has gear 42 keyed thereto, which meshes with gear 43. Said gears 42 and 43 are accommodated within the cavity made adjacent the inner face plate 22.

The device further includes a pair of spaced arms44, which normally are in a horizontal position, and which are in a perpendicular relation to plate 22. One of said arms 44 has a reduced boss 45 which is frictionally receivable within a bore made in said plate 22. The opposite arm 44 receives bearing 46, frictionally receivable within said latter arm 44. Said bearing 46 has "a reduced stud 41, extending beyond the end of said arm 44, and is frictionally receivable within a bore made in said plate 22. Extended through said bearing 46 and stud 41 is shaft 48 which is rigidly affixed by one of its ends to said gear 43,

said latter arm 44 being provided with bore 49,

within which said shaft 48 is accommodated.

Frictionally connecting with the outer ends of said arms 44 is a pair of wheel supporting members 50, one of which has a cavity 51 into which the opposite end of said shaft 48 is extended. There, said shaft 48 has gear 52 keyed thereto. Collar 53 frictionally receivable upon said end of said shaft 48 maintains said gear 52 in position, 'and in contacting relation with the adjacent end of said last mentioned arm 44.

Receivable within said members 50 is wheel 54, which, upon one of its faces carries an annular gear 55 which is in mesh with gear 52. Extended through said members 50 is screw bolt 56, upon which lining 51 and an encompassing hub sleeve 58 are set. Said hub sleeve 58 is in a rigid engagement with wheel 54. Said linin 51, hub sleeve '58 and wheel 54 are journalled upon said screw bolt 56 for rotary movement thereupon. A pair of races 59, rigidly afiixed to the inner faces of said members 50, with said screw bolt 56 passed therethrough, support ball bearings 60 in contact with the ends of said hub sleeve 58 for facilitating free rotary movement of said wheel 54 upon said screw bolt 56.

The rim of said wheel 54 is enlarged and is in an' overlapping relation with the ends of said members 50, as is clearly seen in Fig. 4. Said rim 'is also bevelled for providing a convenient body contacting surface. 7

Plate 30 is provided with exhaust vent 6| made at a point farthest removed from said tube 35 and bore 36. Said exhaust vent 6| is in communication with cavity 33 and along the path of vanes =34. At least one of said vanes 34 is capable of being accommodated intermediately of the inner end of bore 36 and exhaust vent 6|. When water purpose of rotating is forced through bore 36 from tube '35 against one nearest vane 34, the same is propelled towards the point of said cavity 33 disposed oppositely of said exhaust vent 6|. Water carried by the pockets defined by said vanes 34 is exhausted through said exhaust vent 6 I.

Connecting with said exhaust vent 6| is tube 62, having elbow 63, which directs the lower end of said tube 62 into a central relative position with relation to said arms 44, as is seen in Fig. 4. The upper peripheral portion of said tube 62, adjacent its lower end, and in the proximity of the rim of wheel 54 is cut away, and the remaining portion of said tube 62 is laterally spread out to provide a gutter 64, best shown in Fig. 3, in a spaced relation with the rim of saidwheel 54, for the purpose of directing the exhausted water through tube 62 into a comparatively thin stream flowing against the periphery of said rim. Thus, the water flowing through said gutter 64 against the rim of said wheel 54 cleans it by removing any adhering waste particles. For further cleaning the rim of said wheel 54 a roll of cotton 65 may be positioned upon the upper peripheral portion of tube 62, adjacent wheel 54, held in position by collar 66, which is carried by said tube 62. The adjacent end of said cotton roll 65 remains in contact with the rim of wheel 54 for further removing any adhering particles thereto.

From the hereinabove description it will be seen that when turbine wheel 32 rotates, the same will impart rotary movement to shaft 38, which in turn will cause rotation of gear 43, imparted thereto through gear 42. Gear 43 will impart rotation to shaft 48, which in turn will rotate gear 52 for imparting rotary movement to gear 55. The latter gear, being rigidly afiixed to wheel 54 will cause the rotation of said wheel 54 upon screw bolt 56. The rotation of wheel 54 will be in the direction indicated by arrow in Fig. 2. Thus, the stream of water exhausting itself through gutter 64 and against wheel 54 will do so after the preceding portions of said wheel have contacted the users body, for removing adhering particles from said wheel 54 and for cleaning the same as was hereinabove stated. Thus, the portions of said wheel 54, having passed gutter 64 towards and above bowl I 6. To retract said arms 13 and the present device to their inoperative position, shown in Fig. 1, when handle 61 has been released, leaf spring 68 is afiixed to one of said bars I l. The opposite end of said leaf spring 68 bears against one of said arms l3 for shifting said arms I3, and the elements of the device reposing upon platform I 6 to their inoperative position shown in Fig. 1. When arms l3 are tilted toward bowl ID by the action of handle 61 the shifting is against the tension of said spring 68.

Flexible tube 35, at its opposite end, connects with a valve box 69, which is in any suitable manner supported above the floor and rearwardly of bowl I0. Lever 13 is pivotally connected with one of said arms [3. The opposite end of said lever 10 connects with valve operating arm 1|. City water pipe 12 connects to valve box 69. Normally the valve within box 69 remains shut. When swings in either direction on a horizontal and against the tension of spring 2|. Wheel in said valve 35 for 'actuatmg turbine wheel 32 as hereinabove described. Spring 53 is capable of retractin arms l3 into their inoperative position as well asof. retractinglever '10 for actuating arm H for closing the valve in valve box 69' for cutting off the-supply of water into casing 31 and for thereby rendering the device inoperative.

Fromv the hereinab'ove description it will be A seen that as handle 51" is depressed the cleansing device bodily shifts toward and abovetoilet bowl 6 I or handle or the device is bodily" shifted towards and above bowl and. in a downward: direction. By virtue of the hinge: arrangement including arms 24-, pintles. 25 and springs 28. the device is capable: of angularly shitting on a vertical plane and of causing wheel 54 to properly contact the users body to be cleansed.- Due to: the action of pivot pin I 1" and spring It the device is-c'am against the tensionofspring 68 at the same time assuming a loweredjposition. due to the inclination of arms, I13. for causing said wheel to assume a level substantially corresponding ,to the level of the part of" the: users body to be cleansed. The buttocksof' the user guide the i the; wheel 54 into the channel defined by the buttocks in order that wheel 54' may enter the said channel and assume a contactual position with the user's anal region. Springs 2'8 are. capable of yieldingffor permitting arms 44 and members 50 to assume an angular position with. relation to platform It, as said wheel 54 enters the said channel. Said springs 28' maintain said wheel 54 in contact. with the users body to be cleansed.

, The shifting movement of. the cleansing device on av vertical plane as permitted by the hinge arrangement of hinge arms 24 as they swing upon pintles 25. The degree of pressure of wheel 54' upon the users body is regulated by adjusting the degree of tension of springs 28, which is accomplished by turning pintl'es 25 and their heads 21' into either direction for shifting the upper ends of springs 28 toward or away from plate 22. Recess 23 provides clearance for plate 22 past block l9 and pins- H. and 2-0. as the. device shifts on a vertical plane upon hinges defined by said hinge arms. 2.4 and pintles 25..

Although wheel 54 is centered with relation to bowl l0 facilitating said wheel to enter the said. channel, nevertheless said wheel 54' is capable of shifting on a horizontal plane in either direction in order to accommodate itself to any particular oft-center position of' the user. This result is accomplished: by virtue of the pivot defined by pin 11 upon which block l9 rotatably plane 54 guidediby the users' buttocks will causearms 44 to shift in either direction, shifting the entiredevice upon its pivot pin ll causing said spring 2| to yield as block I! rotatably shifts. In this'manner wheel 54 is caused to find the said channel to enter the same even though the channel may be at any given moment notin alinement with the longitudinal axis of wheel 54. Asv was hereinabove mentioned spring 2| seeking to assume its normal position will ultimately bring the entire device into its normal position with wheel 54 properly centered with relation to bowl II).

In order to prevent contamination of the water supply by inadvertent backing or siphonage of the water which may remain in the device after usage, a check valve 90, or other means, may be connected in the line 12.

From the hereinabove description it will be seen that the cleansing device is capable of variparticular position of the user's body. By means wardly shifted position the valve in valvebox 69 is open permitting the flow of water into casing 3| for operating turbine wheel 32. The exhausting water flowing through tube 52' and gutter 64 actsv upon wheel 54 for cleaning the same. Once handle 61' released spring 5d acts upon one of arms #3 not only for bringing said arms l3 into their inoperative position butalso for closing the valve in valve box 69 by virtue of automatic retraction of lever 1 0 and arm 'l l. Tube 35 being flexible permits the shifting of the assembly upon platform [6 with relation to said valve box 69-;

The hub of wheel 54 may be made of hard rubber while the rimthereof may be made of softer rubber.

It is further observed that the upper edge of the cut-out in tube 62 defining said gutter contacts with the periphery of the rim of wheel 54 and acts as a scraper for-said rim (see Fig.1), thereby removing any matter adhering tosaid run.

Cotton roll 65 may be saturated with an antiseptic to act upon the rim of wheel 54'. Tube 62, adjacent said roll- 65, maybe perforated for permitting water in small quantities to act upon roll 65 in order to kecp itmoist so that the antiseptic would be carried to the rim of said wheel 54.

While there is described herein a preferred embodimentof the present invention, it is nevertheless tobe understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asclaime'd.

What I claim as new is: I

1. A toilet bowl device for cleansing posterior portion of the human body comprising a rotatable element, a supporting me'mberupon which said rotatable element is supported, tensioninr; means coacting with said supporting member for maintaining' the latter and" said rotatable element in their normal inoperative position, a handle for manually bodilyshifting" said supporting member into a shifted operative position againstthe action of said tensioning means, a turbine, a valve box, a valve therewithin, a connecting tube between said turbine and said valve box, a connecting member between said valve and said supporting member, said valve being actuated by said connecting member on shifting of said handle for permitting flow of water into said turbine through said connecting tube, and connecting means between said turbine and said rotatable element for imparting a rotary movement to the latter when said rotatable member and said supporting member have been shifted into their operative position on shifting of said handle.

2. A toilet bowl device for cleansing posterior portion of the human body comprising a rotatable element, a supporting member upon which said rotatable element is supported, tensioning means coacting with said supporting member for maintaining the latter and said rotatable element in their normal inoperative position, a handle for manually bodily'shifting said supporting mem- ,'ber into a shifted operative position against the action of said tensioning means, a turbine, a valve box, a valve therewithin, a connecting tube between said turbine and said valve box, a connecting member between said valve and said supporting member, said valve being actuated by said connecting member on shifting of said -handle for permitting flow of water into said .turbine through said connecting tube, connecting means between said turbine and said water from said turbine against the ,rotatable element.

rim of said 3. A toilet bowl device for cleansing posterior portion of the human body comprising a base,

a block supported upon said base, a casing, a

rotatable element supported upon said casing, a motive element within said said casing for imparting a rotary movement to said rotatable element, said rotatable element being normally supported outside of the perimeter of the toilet bowl, means for shifting said base toward the toilet 'bowl for bringing said element within the perimeter of the toilet bowl, a hinged connection between said casing and said block, and a .tensioning means between said block and said casing, onoperation of said second named means 1 said tensioning means being capable of permitting yieldable shifting movement of said rotat- .able element upon said hinged connection for yieldably contacting the human body above the toilet bowl.

4. A toilet bowl device for cleansing posterior i portion of the human body comprising a base,

a vertical pivot pin rigidly supported upon said base, a block journalled by its center upon said pivot pin, a pair of pins one adjacent each end of said block and rigidly connecting therewith, a yielding element connecting all of said pins, a casing, a rotatable element supported upon said casing, said casing being connected with said block, a motive element within said casing for impartin a rotary movement to said rotatable element, said rotatable element being normally supported outside of the perimeter of thetoilet bowl, and means for shifting said base, said casto flush said rotatable element.

1 ing and said rotatable element towards the toilet bowl for bringing said rotatable element within the perimeter of the toilet bowl, said block being capable of horizontal rotary shifting movement upon said pivot pin against the action of said yielding element for angularly shifting said casing andsaid rotatable element for conforming the position of the latter with relation to the human body upon a horizontal plane.

5. A toilet bowl device for cleansing posterior portion of the human body comprising aIbase, a block supported upon said base, a casing, a rotatable element supported upon said casing, a motive element for imparting a rotary movement to said rotatable element, said rotatable element being normally supported outside of the perimeter of the toilet bowl, a handle for shifting said base toward the toilet bowl for bringing said element within the perimeter of the toilet bowl, a hinged connection between said casing and said block, tensioning means between said block and said casing, on actuation of said handle said tensioning means being capable, of permitting yieldable shifting movement ofsaid rotatable element upon said hinged connection for yieldably contacting the human body above the toilet bowl, a conduit connecting a source of water with said motive element, a valve-in said conduit, normally said valve being closed, and a connecting member between said valve and said handle, on actuation of said handle said connecting member being adapted to open said valve for permitting the flow of water through said conduit to said motive element for actuating the latter for imparting a rotary. movement to said rotatable element, the exhausted water being adapted o'rro REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,218,936 Ford Mar. 13, 1917 1,646,257 Pieretti Oct. 18, 1927 1,687,252 Laessker Oct. 8, 1928 r 1,949,415 Guidetti Mar. 6, 1934 OTHER REFERENCES Cross-Connections in Plumbing systemsfiU. S.

I Dept. of Commerce, National Bureau'of standards Research Raper RP1Q86, April i938i. l' Y 

